Liu Suye thumbed the paper's fine grit and felt the spell dissolve beneath his fingertips. The first line read only "Greetings" and if it wasn't for the fact that it had been personally delivered by Liu Sumeng, the older Liu brother would have thought that it was a letter like any other. One where Peng Zhugen complained about the present and reminisced about the past. Even the complex spells overlain was something Liu Suye associated with the mundane when it came to one Peng Zhugen.
So he wasn't that alarmed, not yet, and took his time to straighten his robes and bask in the warmth of an afternoon sun. He even poured himself a bowl of wine and savored the burn down his throat as his eyes leisurely trailed though the letter's contents…
"Greetings.
"I often find myself thinking of our youth; when we were carefree and frolicked around the Seven Moons Mansion. What are your memories of Yang Sehan like? When I first met him, I thought him a frail boy with endless talent that was wasted in favor of sleep under the afternoon sun. I do not know how I came to get along with him. Frankly, I am uncertain how I came to know you either. Perhaps it was all just a long miserable string of misfortune."
Liu Suye rolled his eyes and poured himself another glass. Just how many letters had he read with the exact same opening? And how many times had he written back in reminder: "You had a crush on Yang Sehan because you thought he was a girl. And that reason why we became friends was that I was the only person who could stand your complaining and your random beatings."
But such it was part of Peng Zhugen's personality to follow the same pattern. So Liu Suye had expected the following part of the letter to detail his newfound ails as Sect Leader. But instead, the following lines read:
"I had honestly hoped to relay this information to you only in person but in light of recent events, I find myself unable to leave the confines of this manor. So I ask of you, Liu Ji, to please read the following contents of this letter with as critical and attentive eyes as you possibly can."
Liu Suye frowned and set down his bowl of wine. Since when did Peng Zhugen ever write the word 'please'?
So he narrowed his focus on the slew of words written after:
"I have incriminating evidence against Yang Sehan and the entire Seven Moons Sect. But before you read any farther I need to remind you of not only my own but also of your personal relationship with Yang Sehan. Even if you never became as close to him as I did, I know that you are probably the only person that understands my sentiments. And while I know that it is my duty as Sect Leader to proceed both cautiously and logically, I fear that I cannot. So I need you to look at it with both a familiar and critical set of eyes. And tell me what is the proper next step.
"The Seven Moons Sect is collaborating with the Demon Clan. While their true goals remain obscure to me, I cannot imagine anything other than something nefarious."
Liu Suye had to read that line at least three times for it to sink in. "That's impossible!" He couldn't help but shout. But the letter did not respond and its contents did not change. How could that be? He was just there at the Seven Moons Manor for the Supreme Hunting Tournament and everything was just as normal! He even caught up with Yang Sehan and took a walk around the Lotus Pond to revisit the places they favored as children.
"I understand that it might be difficult for you to believe but I'd heard rumors of the Demon King coming to and fro the Seven Moons territory as he pleased. I had thought it absurd until I sent in my own spies to observe this phenomenon.
"I have discovered a network of arrays that combined both Seven Moons and Demon Clan techniques that allows the Demon King to travel undetected. Because the demonic techniques are mixed in with normal ones, they're difficult to detect at first glance. To use these arrays there are two main conditions. One, you must hold a key. And two, you must be a demon. I managed to acquire one of these keys. I would gladly hand it off to properly seal my accusations with solid evidence but alas, I do not feel safe allowing someone else other than myself to handle it.
"In any case, I leave this information in your hands. Please do with it as you see fit."
Again with the word 'please'! Liu Suye's head was throbbing and he wanted nothing more than to drown himself in alcohol. So he went and took a stash that would make any alcoholic envious and began to pour himself bowl after bowl. While it might appear to an outsider that Liu Suye was fed up and wished nothing more than to escape from this new responsibility dumped on him by Sect Leader Peng, the truth could not be more different. For Liu Suye thought clearer and found it was easier to focus with a little alcohol in his system.
The situation was undoubtedly delicate and while he understood Peng Zhugen's affections towards Yang Sehan, Liu Suye wasn't going to allow that sway him. He needed to make a decision that was right. Not only for him or for Peng Zhugen and Yang Sehan, but also for the entire cultivation world…
And thus he found himself in the Main Hall, surrounded by familiar eyes at the Heavenly Sword Sect. After sharing the contents of the letter to everyone there, an oppressive silence filled the room.
"Is there a way to confirm this evidence?" An Elder spoke up.
"Is Sect Leader Peng of the Hidden Mist trustworthy? Are we even certain about the origins of this letter?"
Their hesitance was to be expected. After all, no one wanted to readily jump at the incentive of war.
But what choice was there? The Demon Clan posed enough of a threat alone.
"The evidence can be confirmed." Liu Suye said gravely. "Yes, Sect Leader Peng is trustworthy." He added when questioned.
Luckily, Liu Fumao was here to be the voice authority and agreed with his nephew's words.
Still, there was doubt. "But wasn't the Seven Moons Sect also trustworthy up until a moment ago? Why should we believe the Hidden Mist over Seven Moons."
Liu Fumao nodded, "I understand your hesitance. And I agree that is a matter in which we must proceed with extreme caution. There's a reason why I only gathered those deemed the most trustworthy and not the entire Sect." He looked around to the Elders and a few of his close family members. "We will confirm the evidence with Sect Leader Peng. As well as send out our own spies to the Seven Moons territory. Once we have deemed their plans devious we shall proceed from there."
The Elders looked at each other with sullen expressions. They couldn't refute the Sect Leader on the matter even they wished to deny the reality of the situation.
In the back of the room, Liu Sumeng stood there quietly. He was not surprised by this development. In his past life, the war between the cultivation world (if it could even be called the cultivation world at that point) and the Demon Clan was carried much later on and was led under the banner of Emperor Taixu.
He didn't know what to expect now that all the other sects were around to fight against Seven Moons and Demon Clan. He hoped that with the Tiger Heart Amethyst, Yuan Xuelan could quickly forge Silei. Now, if there was only a way to accelerate his swordsmanship as well…
Liu Sumeng's thoughts as such, dominated by Xuelan. He kept thinking about the unstoppable emperor that laid waste to both demons and the Seven Moons. While he had no desire for Yuan Xuelan to fall into the same madness, Liu Sumeng had every intention to nurture his power and might back to state that it'd been in his previous life…
If only there was a way to make Yuan Xuelan stop ignoring him. And to hate him less…
On the other side of the room, Yuan Xuelan shuffled his feet and crossed his arms, expression set in deep discontent. War was the last thing on his list of interests! And it only meant he needed to get stronger much faster if he wanted to protect his loved ones.
He'd been plagued with his own weakness lately and took to the forests to practice his swordsmanship. There was a nagging voice in the back of his mind that reminded him that learning directly from the Ivory Sword Saint was an option that existed. But he stubbornly ignored it and continued to practice by himself. He had planned to go into seclusion soon in order to raise his cultivation and there was the matter of Tiger Heart Amethyst as well…
Argh! Yuan Xuelan wanted to tear his hair out! Too many things and so little time! War sure was a stupid and annoying thing!
And perhaps it was his youth that saw this entire matter as more trivial than it was, for Yuan Xuelan understood the idea of war but did not understand much about war itself. And that this would become a true testament not only to his strength but to his sanity as well.